Clasp.



A. 0. BOYLAND.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1910.

1,069,225, Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

WITNESSES: IN l/EIVTOR W c a hm B ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPHCO..WASH1NGTON. D c

ALVAH O. BOYLAND, OF ANACONDA, MONTANA.

CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed June 11, 1910. Serial No. 566,290.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALVAH O. Borrnno,

a citizen of the United States, and a res1-.

dent of Anaconda, in the county of Deerlodge and State of Montana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which thefollowing is a specificatio-n.

My invention is an improvement in clasps, and consists in certain novelconstructions, and combinations of parts, hereinafter described andclaimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive claspsuitable for use, whenever it is desired to firmly hold two flatelements together, and which may be adjusted in accordance with thethickness of the substances to be grasped.

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a plan viewof the improvement, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, with the claspclosed, Fig. 3 is a similar view with the clasp open, Fig. l is atransverse section, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the base, Fig. 6 isa similar View of the catch, and Fig. '7 is a similar view of theadjusting means.

The embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, consists of abase plate 1, which may be of any desired shape or size, in accordancewith the use to be made of the clasp, the-plate shown comprising asubstantially circular portion 1 having at one side a substantiallyrectangular lug or extension 1", which is provided with a plurality ofopenings 2, through which stitches may be passed to secure the plate inplace.

At approximately the center of the circular portion 1 the plate isprovided with a struck up lug 3, and at each side of the lug with astruck up toot-h 4. The lug is provided on each side edge with alaterally extending journal pin 5, the pins being in alinement, and atits upper end is cut away to form other laterally extending journal pins6, one at each side of the lug and in alinement, and extendingapproximately flush with the adjacent side.edge.

A yoke comprising a body portion 7 and arms 8 is pivoted to the lugs 5,each of the arms 8 being given a quarter turn near its end and bentlaterally at right angles, as at 9 and provided with a transverseopening 10, in which is receivedone of the journal pins 5. The bodyportion of the yoke is provided at its center with an upwardly offsetportion 11, and with a longitudinally extending finger piece 12.

A frame comprising a pair of substantially parallel bars 13 connected attheir ends by cross bars let and 15 is journaled on the lug 6. The bars13 adjacent to the cross bar 14, are bent over upon themselves in onedirection to form bearings 16, and at the other end are bent over uponthemselves in the opposite direction as at 17, in such manner that thecross bar 14 overlies the bars 13, but is spaced apart thereupon, andthe bar 15 extends toward the base 1.

A sleeve 21 polygonal in cross section bears at one end against thecross bar 15, and a threaded rod 20 has one of its ends threaded intothe other end of the sleeve. The opposite end of the rod is rotatable inthe bearing sleeve 19 on the end of the cross bar 14, before mentioned.The free edge of the cross bar 15 is serrated as shown at The frame isconnected with the lug 3 by means of laterally extending journal pins 6on the lug, the said pins being journaled in bearings 16 formed on theframe by bending over the arms. The nut 21 forms a locking device forlocking the clasp in closed position. WVhen the rod 20 is depressed todisengage the nut from the cross bar 11, the frame, that is, the movableportion of the clasp, may be moved away from the plate 1 or the fixedportion of the clasp.

The nut 21 is provided with a pin 25 threaded into the opposite end fromthe rod 20, and the said pin engages beneath the portion 11 of the frameformed by the arms 8 and cross piece, and the nut 21 bears against theinner edge of the said cross bar. By turning the nut 21 to move ittoward or from the sleeve 19, the distance between the serrated edge ofthe cross bar 15 and the face of the base 1 may be regulated inaccordance with the thickness of the material 26 grasped.

In operation, the plate is secured to one of the parts to be held, bymeans of stitches or the like passing through the openings 2, when it isdesired to attach the clasp to a garment or fabric. The two portions orends of the article to be held, as for instance a belt, may if desiredbe merely clasped and held together by the clasp. By turning the sleeve21 in the proper direction, the serrated edge 22 of the cross bar 15 maybe brought nearer to or farther away from the plate 1, in order toprovide for varying thicknesses to be grasped by the clasp. W hen theparts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is with the clasp open,the sleeve 21 is below the cross bar 1, and the movable portion of theclasp, that is the yoke 7-8 and the frame shown in Fig. 6, is swungtoward the plate 1, into the dotted line position of Fig. 3. hen themovable parts reach this position and grasp the material to be held, thesleeve 21 slips upwardly and bears against the inner edge of the crossbar 11, thus locking the movable parts in closed position. To releasethe clasp, the sleeve 21 is depressed, until it is below and out ofcontact with the cross bar 11. The parts are now free to swing upwardlyinto the full line position of Fig. 3.

It will be evident that the invention comprises in its simplest form apair of gripping jaws hinged together at one end, and a longitudinallycurved resilient tension frame arranged between the free end of one jawand the hinged connection, means for adjusting or varying the tension ofthe frame, and locking means to hold the jaws open or closed.

It will be evident that when the sleeve 21 is turned, the angle of thecross bar 15 with respect to the plate 1 is varied. The said plate isinclined with respect to the bar, and it is obvious that the more nearperpendicular the said bar is to the plate, the nearer the edge 22 ofthe bar will be to the plate. The lugs l on the plate prevent lateralmovement of the yoke arms away from the lug I claim.

1. A clasp comprising a base having at one end thereof means whereby itmay be attached to a support, and having atthe other end a struck uplug, said lug being provided at each side with a trunnion, the trunnionsbeing in alinement, and the base having a struck up tooth adjacent toeach of the trunnions, a substantially U-shaped frame having the ends ofits arms bent at an angle toward the base and pivoted on the trunnions,the teeth engaging the outer faces of the arms to prevent theirdisengagement from the trunnions, the cross bar of the said frame havinga finger piece and a longitudinal groove, the said lug being cut awaynear the free end thereof to form a pair of oppositely extendingtrunnions whose outer ends are flush with the sides of the lug, asubstantially rectangular frame pivoted at one end on the last-namedtrunnions, the opposite end of the frame being serrated and bent at anangle to the frame over the cross bar of the first frame toward the basefor cooperating therewith to grip an article therebetween, the pivotedend of the last named frame having a sleeve at the center thereof, athreaded rod journaled in the sleeve and projecting toward the serratedend, and a nut threaded on. to the rod having a pin projecting in theopposite direction from the rod and engaging the transverse groove inthe body portion of the said frame said nut engaging the cross bar ofthe frame to prevent opening movement of the said frame away from thebase.

2. A clasp comprising a base having at one end a struck up lug providedat each end with. a laterally extending trunnion, and with a toothadjacent to each trunnion, a substantially Ushaped frame having the endsof its arms bent laterally toward the base and journaled on thetrunnions, the teeth engaging the outer faces of the arms to preventdisengagement thereof, the body portion of the frame having a transversegroove and a finger piece adjacent to the groove, the lug on the basebeing cut away near its free end to form oppositely extending trunnions,a substantially rectangular frame pivoted at one end on the lastnamedtrunnions, the opposite end of the frame being bent laterally over thecross bar of the first-named frame toward the base and serrated tocooperate with the base for grasping an article therebetween, a sleeveon the pivoted end of the frame, a threaded rod journaled in the sleeveand extending to ward the body portion of the firsttamed frame, and anut on the rod engaging the edge of the cross bar for the purposespecified.

25. fr clasp comprising a base having at one end. a lug provided at eachside with a laterally extending trunnion, a substantially ll-shapedframe having the ends of its arms bent laterally toward the base andpivoted to the trunnions, means on the base for preventing lateralmovements of the arms away from the lug, the cross-bar of the framehaving a finger piece, said lug having its upper end cut away to form apair of trunuions offset inwardly from the first-nan1ed trunnions, asubstantially rectangular frame piv oted at one end on the last-namedtrunnions, a sleeve at approximately the center of the said end, theopposite end of the frame being bent laterally over the cross bar of thefirst frame toward the base and serrated for cooperating therewith toform a pair of gripping jaws, a threaded rod journaled in the sleeve andextending toward the serrated end, and a nut on the rod for engaging thecross bar of the first-named frame to prevent opening movement of theframe away from the base.

4:. 1i clasp" comprising a base having at one end a lug provided at eachside with a laterally extending trunnion, a substantially ll-shapedframe having the ends of its arms bent laterally towardv the base andpivoted to the trunnions, means on the base for preventing lateralmovement of the arms away from the lug, the cross bar of the frame having a finger piece, said lug having a second pair of trunnions above thefirst pair, a substantially rectangular frame pivoted at one end on thelast-named trunnions, the opposite end being serrated and bent towardthe base to cooperate therewith to form a pair of gripping jaws, athreaded rod journaled on the said rectangular frame at the pivoted endand extending toward the serrated end, and a nut on the rod engaging thecross bar of the firstnamed frame to lock the jaws in closed position,said rod being movable laterally to permit the nut to be disengaged fromthe frame, to permit the base and the last-named frame to move away fromeach other.

5. A clasp comprising a base having at one end :1 lug, a substantiallyU-shaped frame having the ends of its arms bent laterally toward thebase and pivoted to the lug on each end thereof, means for preventingdisengagement of the arms, a substantially rectangular frame pivoted atone end to the lug above the connection of the first frame, the oppositeend being serrated and bent laterally toward the base and over the crossbar of the first frame and cooperating with the base to form a pair ofgripping jaws, a threaded rodjournaled on the lastnamed frame atapproximately the longitudinal center thereof and extending toward thecross bar of the first-named frame, and a nut on the rod engaging theedge of the said cross bar to lock the aws in closed position, said nutbeing depressible out of engage ment with the said edge to permit thejaws to open.

6. A clasp having at one end a lug, a substantially U-shaped framehaving the ends of its arms bent laterally toward the base and pivotedto the lug, a second substantially rectangular frame pivoted at one endto the lug above the connection of the firstnamed frame, the oppositeend of the second frame being bent over the cross bar of the first frametoward the base, and serrated to cooperate withthe base to form grippingjaws, a threaded rod journaled on the last-named frame at the connectedend, and a nut on the rod engaging the cross body of the first-namedframe to lock the jaws in closed position, said nut being depressibleout of engagement with the said frame to permit the jaws to open.

7. A. clasp comprising a base, a frame having one end bent laterally andhinged to the base, a second frame hinged at one end to the base abovethe connection of the first frame, the opposite end being serrated andbent over the free end of the first frame toward the base, and meansbetween the hinged end of the last frame and the free end of the firstframe and engaging the said ends to prevent the swinging of the freeends of the frames away from the base, the said means being adjustable.

ALVAH O. BOYLAND.

\Vitnesses:

T. P. STEWART, ALBERTINE BoWERs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of.Patents, Washington, D. G.

